十人十色 jūnintoiro Ten People, Ten Colors

Ten people, ten colors: everyone is their own kind, and the proverb says so without judging it. Ten is not a count, it stands for everyone, and the colors are kinds, characters, tastes, the picture that every English proverb of minds and tastes lacks, which is why the literal English is the right one. The dictionaries have read it as hearts, as minds and as tastes, and the gentlest reading, that it celebrates our differences, is one the sources support; which you take is yours.

We want you to be as happy with the meaning as you are with Master Takase's art. To learn more, visit Philology of 十人十色.

Each design is Master Japanese Calligrapher Eri Takase's hand-brushed calligraphy of the word or phrase on this page, delivered as a PDF you can print. Every PDF includes the line art, so a tattoo artist or a craftsperson can work from the outline as well as the brushed image.

Your purchase includes a personal-use license: use the design as a tattoo reference, frame it, engrave it, print it for yourself, or make it into a gift. For more information see Licensing, which also covers commercial-use options that may be purchased separately.

Your PDF is available for download the moment your order completes, and a copy is attached to your emailed receipt.

If you need your design again later, ask us for it and we will send it.